Apparatus for making lock washers



March 21, A' STOLL APPARATUS FOR MAKING LOCK WASHERS Filed May 23, 1950 Az, .lllllll. .lll-AIIIIHIIII n A TTORNEY Patented Mar. 2l, i933 trice ALBERT STOLL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO NATIONAL MACHINE IRODUOTS COMPANY, 01E' DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN APPARATUS FOR M'AKING LOCK `XASIIERS Application filed May 23, 1930. Serial No. 454,977.

This invention` relates to an lapparatus for` making split lock washers.

Briefly stated, an important object of this invention is to provide simpleand economical means through the medium of which a tubular body ot helically wound stock may be cut lengthwise to define individual heli- .Cal lock washersa the cutting means being venient and expeditious means of handling the same in trade and otherwise.

Other objects and advantages will kbe apparent during the course of the following description.

In theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Y

Figure l is a, fragmentary side elevation illustrating the washer making means employed in connection with a nut and washer assembly/ing mechanism,

Figure 2 is a. detail transverse sectional view illustrating the means bywhich a tubular body oi helically wound stock is cut lengthwise to form individual spring washers,

*igure 3 is a side elevation illustrating the locking action of a washer made in accordance with the inventiom' Figure 4 is a side elevation ot a package of washers embodying the invention, a portion of the covering of the washers being broken away. Y

Y In the drawing wherein for the purpose et illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention,` the numeral 5 designates a holder or magazine ofitubular tormation. As shown in Figures l and 2, the magazine 5 is arranged vertically and is open at the upper end thereof iorthe reception of a tubular body of helically wound wire `6. rlhe wire from which the tubular body 6 is formed may be oil any desired cross sectional formation depending entirely `on the purpose for which the washers are intended.

Figure 2 illustrates that the vertically arranged magazine is provided with a longitudinal slot 8 receiving the peripheral portion of a high speed cutting and abrading wheel 9. The wheel 9 is of a type commerci ally available and contains. an abrasive such as carborundum to cut through the ad,- jacent side of the tubular body 6 and thereby form individual split helical washerslO. It will be seen that the peripheral portion of the wheel 9 remains in Contact withvthe ends of the washers previously formed while if cutting through the tubular bodyto form additional washers and rin this Vmanner the ends of the washersare sharpened `to form teethl which bite int-o the surfaces between which-the washers are clamped'.

Since the longitudinal cut made by the wheel9 is radial or parallel to the longitu-V dinal axis of the tubular body 6, the helical washers thus formed will have the ends thereof disposed at acute angles to the impinging faces of the washer to form rela'- tively stout and yet sharp teeth` which bite into the surfaces between which the washers are confined. In other words, when the helical washers are compressed axially the sharp teeth deiined by the ends of the washer will be positioned for effective' contact with the surfaces between which the same for effective biting engagement intothe sur- 1Y0 faces between which the washer is clamped.

Suitable feeding means in the nature of friction wheels 12 or the like are provided to advance the tubular body 6 to the cutting and abrading wheel 9. The magazine 5 is provided' with suitable openings for the passage of the feeding means 12.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the cutting and abrading wheel 9 is mounted on a shaft 14 having driving connection witii a source of power 16 through motion transmitting belts 18 or the like, the said belts being trained about pulleys on the drive shaft 19 of the source of power and on the shaft 14.

Figure 2 illustrates that the outlet portion of the magazine 5 is extended beyond the cutting and abrading wheel to hold the washers together in axialy alignment so that the saine may be furnished to a receiver of any nature. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the washer maker employed in combination with a nut and washer coupling mechanism embodying a washer carrier 20 in the nature of a driven disk having the periphery thereof formed with a plurality of uniformly spaced shallow sockets 22 adapted for the reception of the completed washers.

The washer carrier 20 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow associated therewith to present the washers to the annular extensions of nuts 24 positioned in the sockets 26 in the periphery of a nut carrier 28. The nut carrier 28 is also in the nature of a driven disk rotated in the direction indicated by the associated arrow. Of course, the carriers 20 and 28 are preferably of the same diameter and are driven at the same speed to bring the sockets 22 and 26 successively. into alignment for coupling the washers and nuts. Otherwise expressed, the washers and nuts carried by the separate disks are brought to a tangency and are coupled by the endwise pressure on these parts incident to the meeting of the same.

The disks 20 and 28 are driven together by a shaft 32 having connection with the source of power 16 by a suitable motion transmitting means 34. Figure 1 illustrates that oppositely threaded worms 36 Vare keyedi or otherwise secured on the shaft 32 and have driving engagement with worm wheels 38 having rigid connection in any manner with the disks 2O and 28. Thus, the washer and nut carriers 20 and 28, respectively, are rotated in opposite directions and at the samev speed to couple the washers and nuts carried thereby and,` asV the disks continue turning,I the coupled nutsand washers will be dropped into a suitable receiver below.

The nuts 24 are furnished to the nut carrier by way of a chute 40 which, as shown illustrated in detail, by which the nuts lare on a standard .46. A link 48 has connection with the hopper'42 through the medium of a pivot element 50 spaced from the pivot element 44 and extending parallel thereto. The lower portion of the link 48 has connection with a crank 52 which, as is believed to be apparent, is rotated through its connection 54 with the shaft 32. Operation of the cra-nk 52 will oscillate the hoppei' 42 to agitate the supplyA of nuts contained therein, this being intended to bring about the orderly supply of nuts to the disks 28- by way of the chute 40.

The manner of forming the washers and of holding the same after being formed makes it possible to collect the washers while in axial alignment and arrange the same in the form of a package as suggested in Figure 4. A predetermined number of washers may be placed in the package 60 to provide for expeditious handling of the washers in trade and in any quantity. The package disclosedin Figure 4 not only provides a convenient means of handling the washers in predetermined quantities in trade, but

facilitates the final selection of the washers for application toV bolts or the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for making split lock washers, a magazine of tubular formation adapted for the reception of a tubular body of helically wound stock, said magazine being provided with a longitudinally extending opening in one side thereof, a combined extending abrading and cutting wheel through the opening at right angles to the axis of the magazine for cutting said tubular body lengthwise and for sharpening the ends of the washers thus formed, and feeding means for the helically wound stock, said magazine having an outlet portion extended beyond said abrading and cutting wheel to hold the previously formed washers in axial alignment. Y

2. In an apparatus for making washers from a tubular body of helically wound stock, a magazine for receiving the tubular body, a high speed abrading and cutting wheel extending into the magazine for cutting and abrading engagement with the tubular body to cut the same lengthwise and thereby form individual washers and to subsequently sharpen the ends of the washers thus formed, there being means to hold the washers in axial alignment after the formation thereof.

3. In an apparatus for making split helical bodies, a magazine having means for the receptionlof a body of helically wound stock, a cutting element extending into the magazine for cutting engagement with the helioally Wound stock and positioned radially with respect thereto to cut the stock length- Wise and thereby form individual split helical bodies, said magazine having an outlet portion extending beyond the cutting element to hold the individual helical bodies in alignment subject to the formation thereof.

@ In testimony whereof I aEX my signature.

ALBERT STOLL. 

